Fabricated metal building



Jan. 10, 1939.

o. M. STOLZ FABRI CATED METAL BUILDING Filed Feb. 24, 1936 ATTORN EY Patented Jan. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,143,288 FABBIGATED METAL nmnmo Owen M. Stolz, Damn, Ohio Application February 24, 1936, Serial No. 65,345

'IClaims.

This invention relates to a metal building and more particularly to a wall unit for use in constructing such a building.

One object of the invention is to provide a standardized wall unit and means whereby a plurality of such units may be easily and accurately assembled to form the walls of a building.

A'further object of the invention is to provide such a wall unit which will be complete, with interior and exterior wall surfaces, and means for attaching the same to other wall units and to a supporting structure. A further object of the invention is to provide a wall unit of, such a character that the spaces between two such wall units may be filled with concrete or like material to provide a rigid supporting column and to render the joint air tight and moisture proof. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide a wall unit of such a character that a wall formed from a plurality of such units will be insulated against the transmission of heat or cold. A further object of the invention is to provide. such a wallunit which will be simple in its construction and of such a character that it can be easily manufactured and transported to the place where it is to be used.

Other objects of the invention may appear as the device is described in detail.

ln-the accompanying drawing Fig. l is a perspective view, partly brolren away, of a portion of a building showing walls formed of a plurality of units embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of one of the wall units; Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken through the-adjacent edges of two units and the supporting member; Fig. 4. is a sectional detail of the insulated connection between the panels oi the wall unit; Fig. 5 is a perspective detail of one of the attaching devices; Fig. 6 is a detail view, partly broken away, of a connecting member for securing a plurality of units tothe foundation; and Fig. 7 is a detail view, partly broken away, of a top beam for connecting the several units one to the other and for supporting joists or rafters.

concrete or other plastic material which, when hardened, will form a rigid support.

In the particular construction illustrated each unit comprises an inner panel it and an am panel ll arranged in parallel planes and rigidly connected one to the other in spaced relation. The two panels may be connected one to the other in any suitable manner but preferably longitudinal members are arranged between and rigidly secured to the panels near the respective edges of the unit and these connecting members are so spaced with relation to the edges of the unit as to form longitudinal channels, so that when two units are placed edge to edge a longitudinal chamber will be formed between the units. In the form shown these longitudinal members are in the form of outwardly facing channel members ii, the flanges of which are rigidly secured to the respective panels, as by welding. The flanges of the channel members may be secured in direct contact with the panels but in many cases it is desirable toinsulate the panels one from the other to prevent the transmission of heat or cold through the wall and for this purpose I prefer to space the flanges it of the channel members I? a short distance from the respective panels and to connect the same to the panels by inserting connecting devices through openings in the flanges and securing the outer ends of these fastening devices to the respective panels, as by welding.v As shown in fig. a, this connecting device is in the form of a thimble it formed from sheet metal and having at its inner end a circumferential flange it which overlaps the adjacent portions of the flange id of the channel member. The body of the thimble it is somewhat smaller than the opening in the flange ill and a liner it of insulating material is interposed between the thimble and the flange it, and a washer ll of insulating material is interposed between the flange it and the panel. The proportions of the parts are such that when the insulation is in place and the thimble pressed into contact with the panel and welded thereto a very rigid connection will be formed between the channel members and the panels, a sumcient number of connecting devices being used to provide rigidity throughout the length of the unit. In the construction here shown the edges of the panels it and ii are bent or curved inward, as shown at it, thus providing grooves into which the flanges of the channel members may extend. However, this arrangement, while desirable, is not essential. It is only essential that the channel members should be insulated from one of the panels but more emcient results are secured by insulating both panels from the connecting mem- I their proper positions during the erection oi the wall and the insertion of the supporting member.

Fill

in alinement one with the other, and wiil For this purpose I prefer to provide each edge of the unit with one or more attaching devices vadapted to have interlocking engagement with corresponding attaching devices carried by an adjacent unit. In the construction shown each attaching device includes resilient parts adapted to be sprung into interlocking engagement with the corresponding attaching device on another unit. In its preferred construction this attaching device consists of a short section of sheet metal bent into substantial channel shape so that it is attaching device may be welded to the channel member. However, in manycases' it is desirable that the attaching devices should not be permanently connected with the channel members at the factory but that they should be removable or adjustable to permit their location to be varied during erection, and I have in the present instance shown the transverse portionof the connecting member as provided with an integral boss 23 formed by extruding a portion of the metal and constituting a rivet adapted to be inserted through one of a series of openings 26 in the channel member and to have its outer end, upset to secure the attaching device to the channel memher, as shown in Fig. 3. In the arrangement shown each attaching. device is provided with two of these rivets but, or course, any suitable number of rivets may be provided. The resilient outer portions of the side members of the at taching device are so spaced that when one unit is moved toward the other one attaching device will enter between the side members of the other and will then spring into interlocking engagement therewith. The attaching members are so constructed and located that when they are in interlocking engagement the units will be located in their proper relative positions, with the pa retained in these positions while the erection of. the wall is being completed. I

If desired, 'means may be provided for positively connecting the interlocking attaching vices one to the other. In the arrangement shown the interlocking'portions of the attaching devices are so arranged that when they are in interlocking engagement the adjacent edges of the panels of the connected units will be spaced a short distance apart and in Fig. 3 I have shown a fastening device, such as a screw 25, inserted between the edges of the adjacent panels and through the interlocked portions of the two attaching devices, thus preventing any relative movement of the attaching devices.

The corner units, as shown in Fig. l, are similar in construction to the side units but the inner and outer panels are angular as shown at and 27, so that the channel members i2 are arranged at'right angles one to the other.

The several units may be secured to the foundation 99 in suitable manner. Preferably the outer panel extends below the inner panel 50 that it overlaps the foundation, as shown at 28, and in the construction shown a member, such as an angle bar 29, is rigidly secured to the foundation on the inner side of the wall and extends lengthwise thereof across a plurality of units. The several units may be secured to this longitudinal member in any suitable manner, as by extending the screws 25 through the vertical flange of the angle bar, then through the slot between adjacent panels and through the attaching devices. The angle bar may be secured to the foundation in any suitable manner, as by a plate 36, which is clamped onto the horizontal flange of the angle bar by a nut ti on a bolt 32 which is embedded in the concrete of the foundation. It will be understood that the floor joists which rest upon this foundation extend above the angle bar so that the bar and its associated parts will be beneath the floor level. The vertical supporting columns are preferably secured to the foundation independently of the wall units and this may. conveniently be accomplished by embedding in the concrete of the foundation, when the latter is poured, a stud or rod 35, the upper portion of which will extend into the longitudinal chamber between two units and will thus be embedded in the concrete of the supporting memher and will rigidly secure the latter to the foundation. The foundation maybe provided with a series of these rods spaced apart a distance equal to the width of one of the wall units. However, exact spacing is unnecessary as it is not essential that the anchored rod should be exactly at the 7 center of the supporting column.

When the preliminary connections have been eiiectedand the wall or a desired portion thereof erected, the longitudinal chambers, which are formed between the channel members i2 of adja= cent units, are filled with concrete, or other suitable material, which, when hardened, will form a rigid upright supporting member for the units. This concretecompletely fills the space between the channel members, and the attaching devices 2t and fastening devices 25 are embedded in the concrete so that the connection between the units be filled with plastic material with which the wall surfaces formed by the panels are coated.

The inner panel it extends above the outer panel ii, the channel members i2 terminating approximately at the top of the" outer panel, and the upper attaching devices extend approxi mately to the top of the inner panel. In filling the concrete into the longitudinal chambers these chambers are filled to approximately the level oi the upper edge of the outer panel and thereafter a top beam, in the form of an inverted channel is placed over the upper portions or" the attaching members with its outer flange above and in line with the outer panel ii and with its inner flange inserted between the attaching members and the upper portion of the inner panel, the curved edge portions l or the inner panel being cut away to permit or the insertion of the flange of the top beam, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The panels may then be secured to this top beam by inserting the connecting screws through the flanges of the top beam and into the attaching devices, the screws on the inner side of'the wall also extending through the slots beall tween adjacent inner panels. Thereafter, it

top beam, such as one of a series of openings 34 provided for connecting joists or rafters therewith.

If insulation is desired in addition to that pro-- vided between the channeimembers I2 and the panels, such additional insulation may be inserted between the inner and outer panels and between the two'channel members, either by filling this space with loose insulating material or by securing a layer or sheet of insulating material between the channel members.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may ocour to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: I

l. A wall unit comprising parallel panels spaced one from the other, outwardly facing channel members arranged between and rigidly secured to said panels near the lateral edges thereof, at taching members secured to said channel members and having resilient parts projecting beyond the edges of said panels and adapted to be sprung into interlocking engagement with corresponding attaching members on other units to retain said units in alinement, with adjacent channel mem bers in juxtaposition to form a vertical chamber adapted to receive a plastic material, and fastem ing devices to extend between panels of adjacent units and through said interlocking attaching members, said attaching members and portions 01 said fastening devices being arranged to be embedded in the plastic material in said chamber.

2. In a wall for a metal building, a plurality of units arranged edge to edge and each comprising inner and outer panels spaced one from the other,

longitudinal members arranged between and rigidly secured to said panels, said members being spaced from the lateral edges oi said panels to form between the edge portions oi'the two panels channels adapted to receive a portion of a supporting member, the outer panel extending below the inner panel to overlap the foundation and the inner panel extending above the outer panel, and a channel-shaped top beam having its outer flange in substantially the same plane with the outer panels of said units and having its inner flange overlapping the inner panels.

3. A metal wall for a building comprising a pinrality of units mounted edge to edge one ts to said member,- an inverted channel merntending across a plurality of said units, the inner Panel of each of said units overlapping said channel member, and means for securing said units to said channel member.

4. A metal wall for a building comprising a plurality of prefabricated units adapted to be mounted ed'ge to-edge on a foundation and hav ing longitudinal channels in their adjacent edges, said units being movable edgewlse on said foundation to locate the edge of one unit in close proximity to the edge of an adjacent unit and form between said units a vertical chamber, said chamher being filled with hardened plastic material, attaching devices mounted in said channels, extending beyond the edges of the respective units and so arranged that the edgewise movement or one unit toward an adjacent unit will bring the attaching devices on said units into cooperating engagement to effect a preliminary connection between said units and retain said units in their proper relative positions, and an anchor secured to said foundation and extending into the'lower end of said chamber in spaced relation to the walls thereof, whereby said anchor and said attaching devices will be embedded in said plastic material to permanently connect said units one to the other and to said foundation.

5. In a metal wall, a plurality of units arranged edge to edge, each unit comprising inner and outer panels spaced one from the other and a longitudinal member arranged between and rigidly secured to said panels, said member being spaced from the lateral edges of said panels at one edge of said unit to form a channel between the edge portions of the two panels, said units being movable lengthwise of a supporting structure to position the channel of one unit in close proximity to the channel or an adjacent unit and form between said units a longitudinal chamber, attaching devices mounted in the channels of the respective units and so arranged that said edge wise movement of one unit will operatively engage the attaching device of that unit with-the attaching device of said adjacent unit to establish a. preliminary connection between said units, and

' hardened plastic material substantially filling said longitudinal chamber and surrounding said attaching devices to support said units and to convert said preliminary connection into a permanent connection.

6. In a metal wall comprising two upright units having opposed vertical channels forming between them a longitudinal chamber, attaching devices secured to the respective units within said channels and having engagement one with the other in said chamber to eflect a preliminary connection between said members and hold the same against relative lateral displacement, hardened plastic material susbtantially filling said chamber, surrounding said attaching devices and forming a supporting column for said units, and means for securing said column to a structin'e on which said upright members are supported,

7. metal wall comprising upright panels arranged edge to edge and having opposedlongitudinai channels forming a vertical chamber between said'panels, attaching devices mounted in the respective channels and having vertically overlapping parts, and a fastening device extending between adjacent edges of said channels and through the overlapping parts of said attaching devices to secure the latter one to the other.

owner M. grow. 

